Progressive Conservatives in Cape Breton-Richmond have chosen their candidate for the next provincial election. Alana Paon was unopposed during a nomination meeting in D’Escousse over the weekend.

Paon is a native of Richmond County. She has consulted widelly in youth leadership, provincial entrepreneurship, economic development, strategic planning, business navigation and multi-level government collaborations.

Paon says one of her concerns is the growing problem of outmigration from Nova Scotia.

There is increasing pressure on the government to at least come up with a temporary fix to the province’s electoral boundaries before voters go to the polls. A new poll suggests 61 per cent of Nova Scotians surveyed support the reinstatement of four minority ridings for Acadians and African-Nova Scotians. The ridings, including the former Richmond constituency and the African-Nova Scotian district of Preston, were eliminated by a boundary review before the last provincial election.

The survey, by Corporate Research Associates, shows the level of support for reinstatement is consistent across the province, while across the population, support is higher among women than men. CRA Chairman and CEO Don Mills says it’s an issue the province can’t ignore.

In January, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruled abolishing of the francophone ridings of Richmond, Clare and Argyle violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The province has been quiet on potential next steps since the court decision was announced.

The latest polling numbers are out and voter preference for the provincial Liberals has slipped. The quarterly survey by Corporate Research Associates, shows 44 per cent of decided voters supporting the Liberals. That’s down from 56 per cent in the last poll in November. The Progressive Conservatives are backed by 28 per cent of voters, up from 20 per cent. The NDP is preferred by 23 per cent of voters, and increase of four points. Five per cent like the Green Party, up one per cent.

The survey also shows 45 per cent of Nova Scotians are satisfied with the performance of the Liberal Government, down from 53 per cent in November.

Antigonish NDP candidate Moraig Macgillivray says she’s hearing a number of concerns from voters leading up to the next provincial election. Macgillivray says three issues in particular stand out as she goes door to door.

Antigonish

New Glasgow

Port Hawkesbury

Antigonish RCMP have laid impaired driving related charges after a man arrived at the detachment hoping to secure the release of a friend in police custody.
RCMP say the man arrived at the detachment just be... read the rest.

Several St. FX Varsity Hockey players have picked up major national awards. At the U Sports Women's Hockey national awards in London, Ontario, X-Women
[caption id="attachment_117514" align="alignright" width... read the rest.